NewsFeed

Welcome to the Open Data Buffalo News Feed, your source to keep you up-to-date on all things Open Data Buffalo! Wondering if a new dataset has been released? Has a new initiative been launched by Open Data Buffalo? Has a community project been showcased? Has a new visualization, data lens, or dashboard been created to provide insight into the City's data? You'll find all the answers to these questions and more here so stay tuned and check back often!

November 6th, 2019:

The General Inspections dataset is now available on the portal. A general inspection means that a City inspector is responding to a complaint or concern given through 311 or other sources to ascertain validity.

Pursuant to the umbrella of International Codes with New York State modifications and applicable chapters of the City Charter, the Department of Permit & Inspection Services (DPIS) responds to complaints or concerns to determine if properties are in compliance with the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and City ordinances. Appropriate response is taken (i.e. no cause for action, letter of violation, referral to the appropriate agency, etc.) as a result of what the inspector finds at the property.

September 9th, 2019:

Open Data Buffalo was featured by Data-Smart City Solutions in an article titled "Making Open Data Open to All in Buffalo, NY." Check out the article to read about the progress the Open Data Buffalo program has made!

"Through relationship building, external data trainings, and internal champions, the City of Buffalo, under the leadership and vision of Mayor Byron W. Brown, has built a people-first model for open data."

May 20th, 2019:

The Current In Rem 53 List (2019) is now available as an open dataset on the portal. The In Rem Foreclosure Auction will be held October 29th , 30th, and 31st, 2019. The Auction will be held at the Buffalo Convention Center (Convention Center Plaza, 153 Franklin Street). Registration convenes at 7:30 A.M., and the auction will begin at 9:30 A.M. Click on the link above to view more details of the auction.

May 9th, 2019:

The Rental Registry dataset can now be found on the open data portal. The Rental Registration Program was implemented in January 2005 to help identify problem properties and absentee landlords. It is used to assist code enforcement efforts to improve the quality of life for tenants and neighbors of rental dwellings.

April 26th, 2019:

The Buffalo Public Schools 2018-2019 dataset has been published. This dataset comprises the public schools in the Buffalo Public Schools system for the 2018-2019 school year.

April 11th, 2019:

The Housing Court Cases dataset is now available on the portal. This dataset contains information regarding all housing court cases that reach arraignment and are adjudicated in Buffalo City Court.

March 19th, 2019:

In Rem 52 Final Auction Results (10/15/18 - 10/17/28) are now available on the portal as an open dataset. The In Rem auction is run by the Department of Assessment and Taxation with the goal of recovering unpaid property taxes, garbage user fees, water utility bills, or sewer rents by selling the property with clean title at auction. Article §6-23 of the City Code sets out the duties for the director of the real estate department and allows for the sale of tax foreclosure properties. Article §15-41 allows for foreclosure on unpaid resident user fees.

March 12th, 2019:

A dataset of Recyclable Materials has been added to the portal. Check it out to answer any questions you might have about how to recycle right in Buffalo!

February 15th, 2019:

The True Tax 2018 - 2019 dataset is now available on the portal. This dataset reflects the "true tax" of assessed properties in the City of Buffalo before exemptions are applied. The dataset is a snapshot in time based on the property's inventory as of taxable status date of 12/01/2017 and the finalized assessments as of the final assessment roll filed on 03/01/2018 and only includes City tax rates.

February 1st, 2019:

The Business Licenses dataset is now available on the portal. A valid license is required to conduct certain businesses within the official limits of the City of Buffalo. The City of Buffalo Ordinance requires persons engaged in a home improvement business (i.e. painting, siding, roofing) or doing construction work in the City of Buffalo to obtain a City of Buffalo Contractor license. All mechanical contractors (i.e. electricians, plumbers, HVAC) must be licensed within the City of Buffalo. Licenses are required for certain business types in order to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City. Upon submittal of a license application, the Office of Licenses will coordinate various reviews and inspections by agencies such as the Building Inspection Office, Fire Prevention Bureau, Health Department, Police Department, zoning, etc. in order to assist individuals in obtaining a city license. This dataset does not include business license information regarding renewals for existing businesses.

October 31st, 2018:

The City of Buffalo's City Website Analytics are now available as an automated dataset on the portal. Web analytics are one of the most useful datasets for understanding direct interaction between local governments and citizens. This data can allow cities to make better decisions about web development priorities based on citizen needs. In the hands of Buffalo's data-savvy community, web analytics can be used to advocate for better accessibility for all residents and to demonstrate challenges that both the city and the civic technology community should address.

October 17th, 2019:

The Licensed Contractors dataset is now available on the portal. A valid license is required to conduct certain businesses within the official limits of the City of Buffalo. The City of Buffalo Ordinance requires persons engaged in a home improvement business (i.e. painting, siding, roofing) or doing construction work in the City of Buffalo to obtain a City of Buffalo Contractor license. All mechanical contractors (i.e. electricians, plumbers, HVAC) must be licensed within the City of Buffalo. Licenses are required for certain business types in order to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City. Upon submittal of a license application, the Office of Licenses will coordinate various reviews and inspections by agencies such as the Building Inspection Office, Fire Prevention Bureau, Health Department, Police Department, zoning, etc. in order to assist individuals in obtaining a city license.

October 9th, 2018:

The City of Buffalo is proud to announce Data 101! The City believes communities are stronger when residents are empowered through the use of data.

To help residents develop the skills to be data-smart, Data 101 is a course geared to teach people about data, the open data movement, data visualization, data analysis, and Open Data Buffalo!

June 29th, 2018:

The Department of Permit & Inspection Services (DPIS) issues violations against conditions on properties that have been verified to violate the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and City ordinances.

The map to the right shows violations issued in May 2018 by status. Zoom in to see where violations occurred and if the City has gained compliance.

June 18th, 2018:

Check out the map to layer various datasets available on the portal over Buffalo's 35 different neighborhoods.

June 7th, 2018:

Open Data Buffalo attended the first Upstate Data Summit held at Syracuse University on June 6th. The one-day event brought together municipal government officials, non-profits, academics and vendors from across Upstate New York to showcase innovative uses of government data and technology.

Kirk McLean, Director of Open Data for the City of Buffalo, discussed how the Open Data Buffalo team built the Mayor’s Civic Innovation Challenge which encouraged the community to develop applications that leverage open city data. Director McLean also participated in a panel discussion and Q&A session.

June 7th, 2018:

A local historic district is defined as "a geographically definable area ... which possesses a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of sites, buildings, structures or objects united historically by past events or united aesthetically by plan or development" in Chapter 337-2 of the City of Buffalo Charter and is designated as such by the Buffalo Common Council.

The 2018-2019 Assessment Roll dataset has been uploaded to the open data portal. Explore this dataset through its data lens, a unique, dynamic format that displays data in a way that is both informational and visually interesting.

Or check out the CitiStat dashboard by clicking the tile to the right to view and filter the interactive charts, maps, and graphs.

March 2nd, 2018:

March 1st, 2018:

Mayor Byron W. Brown's Civic Innovation Challenge Powered by AT&T is launched. The Challenge asks contestants to build solutions that address social and civic issues impacting City of Buffalo residents using data from the City’s new Open Data Buffalo portal to drive their innovative solutions. Read more about it and register at www.buffaloinnovates.com!

February 22nd, 2018:

Mayor Byron W. Brown announces the launch of Open Data Buffalo, the City's official open data portal and program, at his 2018 State of the City Address. Read about it here.